Ex-Gogglebox star Tapper selected as Labour candidate to take on Dowden in Hertsmere
Josh Tapper has been selected by Hertsmere Labour Parry to fight a seat in which deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden currently has a large majority
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Ex-Gogglebox television star Josh Tapper has been selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Hertsmere, where he will attempt to win the seat held currently by deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden.
Tapper, now an account manager at the influential Hanbury Strategy firm, said he was “thrilled and honoured” to be picked to fight the seat, after winning the backing of local party members over another Jewish candidate Louis Trup.
Tapper will have to pull off quite a shock to overturn a hefty majority for Dowden in the seat. In the 2019 the Tory MP won with a 16,951 majority.
But Tapper gained vital campaigning experience in the local Barnet elections, where he performed above expectations in the previously non-Labour areas of the borough’s newly formed Edgwarebury seat.
After he was picked on Tuesday, Tapper posted on social media:”I’m thrilled and honoured to have been selected as Labour ’s parliamentary candidate for Hertsmere. Thank you so much to local members for your support – I won’t let you down. The work to unseat the Deputy Prime Minister starts now!”
The ex-Rosh Pinah Primary School and Yavneh College pupil famously featured on Channel 4 show Gogglebox alongside dad Jonathan, mum Nikki and sister Amy, leaving in 2017.
He previously told Jewish News:”Jewish identity is still very important to me.
“We keep kosher at home, and when out. We do Friday night dinner every week – it’s a big part of my identity, friends and family coming together.” He joined Labour when Keir Starmer became leader.
Dowden has made himself popular with many of Hertsmere’s large community. But he will face questions on the Conservative Party’s record on fighting antisemitism.
Pledges by the Tories to get the Holocaust Memorial Bill passed, along with the anti-BDS bill, in time for the next election also remain unfulfilled.
The Conservatives lost control of Hertsmere council, which the party had run since 1999, last year.
Former chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council Jeremy Newmark, and Labour Group leader, now runs the council.
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